Welcome to our Exploring Buddhism course schedule

If you are familiar with the basic principles of Buddhism but would like to learn more about certain topics and practices, these courses are for you. They include the ongoing Discovering Buddhism Study Program.

Discovering Buddhism Study Program

The Discovering Buddhism course is made up of 14 modules of study and retreat covering the Buddhist path in a systematic way. Each module is completed over two months with both a teaching weekend and a retreat weekend. This two month period gives students time to study, practice and integrate each new subject slowly building a comprehensive base of knowledge and skills.

The modules do not need to be completed in order or within any set time frame. For those students who can’t make it to the center regularly, the course can be completed via a home study option – please visit or call our reception team on 07 5453 2108 for more information.

More than just intellectual study, the Discovering Buddhism course creates a community of students who grow together supporting each other in their practice and understanding.

In 2018 the Discovering Buddhism Program will be taught by Ven. Thubten Chokyi.

Ven. Thubten Chokyi is a Buddhist nun in the Tibetan tradition, ordained in 2006 by Kyabje Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Before joining Chenrezig Institute she was the program coordinator at our sister center Vajrayana Institute, where she has been teaching meditation and Buddhism since 2006 including Discovering Buddhism. She has also led several successful annual retreats for Chenrezig Institute. Prior to ordination, she taught at university and in the community sector for over 20 years.

She is a member of the Sunshine Coast Interfaith Network and committed to interfaith dialogue for world peace. She is also the international director of Liberation Prison Project, a social services program of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT) that offers spiritual advice, teachings, books, and materials to men and women in prison interested in exploring, studying and practicing Buddhism.

Discovering Buddhism Loyalty Reward Package*

In recognition of the ongoing commitment our Discovering Buddhism students make, Chenrezig Institute has created a Loyalty Reward Package. Students who complete five consecutive Discovering Buddhism weekend courses in this round are welcome to attend the sixth Discovering Buddhism course in the series with no course fee. Over the course of the program, this Loyalty Reward equals nearly a 20% discount on course fees for this life-changing course. This discount does not apply to meals or accommodation.

Supporting Your Study

Students can check the Required Reading list for each module here. We encourage students to support their study by becoming a Library member, giving them easy access to the course materials all year round. Become a Library Member here (and click ‘Memberships’)

November 10 and 11 Presenting the Path Retreat

During the course of his lifetime, the Buddha gave thousands of teachings. The key to beginning to understand them is knowing an appropriate order in which to study them. Realising this, a succession of great Buddhist scholars arranged all the teachings of the Buddha into a clear and easily accessible system called the “lam-rim chenmo”, or graduated path to enlightenment. This map of the Buddha’s teachings forms the heart of Tibetan Buddhism.

In this practice weekend course, we will reflect on the teachings from the ‘Presenting the Path’ module of the Discovering Buddhism program. We will review key principles, have group discussion, and be guided through a variety of meditation practices.

This is a wonderful opportunity to review the contents of the previous teaching weekend: the progressive, step-like structure of the lam-rim, its three scopes, where you fit in at your present stage of spiritual development, what you need to do next, and how to get from here to enlightenment. Although beneficial, you don’t need to have attended the first weekend of this module. All welcome!

Saturday 10th November 9:00 am – Sunday 11th November 3:45 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute.

Facility fee $108* Or if you have joined our Loyalty Reward Program this course is free for you!

December 8 and 9Discovering Buddhism – Preparing for Retreat

Why is retreat important?

“In order for our spirituality, wisdom, concentration, and insight into reality to grow, we need time and space. Our normal modern environment does not give us this…You can see, that Jesus and other great spiritual leaders went into solitary retreat. Christian, Muslim, Indian, Tibetan; all went into isolation for certain periods and gained their high accomplishments through practicing intensively like that. So the history of human experience also shows that Dharma realizations come only through concentrated, twenty-four-hour-a-day practice.

And when you are in that situation, you can conduct research into your experiences, just like scientists investigate phenomena in their laboratories. You can analyze your dreams, your sleep and whatever else come up, and you can supplement your research by reading and study.” Lama Thubten Yeshe

In this weekend course, we will spend time investigating methods of retreat and discussing the benefits that can be found in both solitary and group retreat experiences. We’ll explore the Special Integration Practices of the Discovering Buddhism Program – Lam Rim Retreat, Preliminary Prostrations, Vajrasattva Practice and Nyung Na Retreat. We’ll grow to understand how each of these intensive practices help to prepare our minds in the best possible way to gain realisations on the path to enlightenment.

This is a perfect preparation for students joining us for our annual Vajrasattva and Lam Rim Retreats.

Saturday 8th December 9:00 am – Sunday 9 December 3:45 pm, held in the Gompa at Chenrezig Institute.

Facility fee $108

FPMT

Chenrezig Institute is affiliated with the FPMT. The Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition is a worldwide organisation of over 150 centres founded by Lama Yeshe & Lama Zopa Rinpoche

FUNDING

Chenrezig Institute is fully audited, not-for-profit and mainly run by volunteers. We rely enitrely on the support of members, friends, benefactors and bequests. Facility fees and donations are needed to keep the centre running.